ATK Composite Technologies Supports Delta II

03 February 2003

ATK composite technologies supported the launch on Wednesday of a Boeing Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. that successfully placed into orbit a replacement satellite for the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation.

The initial thrust for the launch was provided by nine GEM 40 solid propulsion strap-on boosters. The graphite epoxy cases for the GEM 40 boosters are manufactured by ATK Composites, Clearfield, Utah. The cases, which are fabricated using a process first introduced by the company in 1958 and modernized and automated over the years, support space launches by a variety of vehicles, including Delta, Titan IV B, Pegasus(R), and Taurus(R).